The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Sokoto State council has directed its members willing to take up political appointments to resign before doing so.
This was given in a statement signed by Dalhatu Abdullahi and Muhammad Bello, the chairman, and secretary of the council, respectively.
The statement titled: “Attention to NUJ Members in Sokoto” revealed that the council was adopting one of the resolutions made by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NUJ during its recent meeting in Edo.
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The statement reads, “The NEC being the highest decision-making organ of the union, resolved that any member, upon receiving any political appointment, should resign his union membership.
“This is to avoid a situation in which the NUJ will be dragged into or seen as belonging to or supporting any political party.
“Such members are, however, entitled to return to the union at the expiration of their political appointments.”
According to the council, some journalists were listed as part of different campaign councils.
“We wish to remind political parties that the ethics of the journalism profession disallowed any member from being partisan.
“Thus, every Nigerian has the constitutional right to elect any political party of his choice, but the ethics of the profession encourages members to remain apolitical being the fourth estate of the realm,” the statement added.
The council directed all chapels in the state to ensure that members willing to take up political appointments should be made to tender their resignations from the membership of NUJ as they should not be allowed to enjoy the privileges that come with being a part of the union.
